If I've sinned and want to repent, what do I do?

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scapularkid8

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I go to Confession at the Pantocrator icon right?
I don’t know how to prepare or what to say to God beforehand. Or how to change.
In the meantime I’m afraid I’ll just keep sinning because I’m in a really bad habit of masturbation and I’m struggling here. Heavily.

I feel like I say prayers hoping God will help me stop but I don’t. It’s really discouraging.
 
Dear brother scapularkid,
scapularkid8 said:
I go to Confession at the Pantocrator icon right?
I don’t know how to prepare or what to say to God beforehand. Or how to change.
In the meantime I’m afraid I’ll just keep sinning because I’m in a really bad habit of masturbation and I’m struggling here. Heavily.

I feel like I say prayers hoping God will help me stop but I don’t. It’s really discouraging.
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Do you have a regular spiritual Father who you trust to give you guidance on this matter?

Have you acknoweldged to God outloud and in your heart that you want Him to take control of your life? God will help you - guaranteed. I often have to remind myself “Let go, let God.”

One should never get caught up on the fact that one sins. One should have hope and trust in the forgiveness that Christ gives us, especially in the Sacrament.

Blessings
 
I don’t have a spiritual father. I don’t have access to one. I’m a student so I don’t have a car and I’m usually moving around between two cities for long periods of time (one of which has no Eastern church of any type, Catholic or Orthodox). A spiritual father isn’t possible for me right now unfortunately.

I haven’t said to God that I want Him to take control of my life yet, because I’m afraid of what that entails. In short, I’m not making Him my God. I like to be in control still and just let God watch. 🙂

I pray to be made sorry for my sins and for me to be able to make YHWH my God over my life. Sometimes I wonder why I’m even Catholic…😦 I feel like a failure.
 
scapularkid8 said:
I don’t have a spiritual father. I don’t have access to one. I’m a student so I don’t have a car and I’m usually moving around between two cities for long periods of time (one of which has no Eastern church of any type, Catholic or Orthodox). A spiritual father isn’t possible for me right now unfortunately.

I haven’t said to God that I want Him to take control of my life yet, because I’m afraid of what that entails. In short, I’m not making Him my God. I like to be in control still and just let God watch. 🙂
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When you think that you are in total control of your life and God is just watching, think of these quotes:

John 15: For without me ye can do nothing.

Isaiah 45:5. I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. 7. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

Deuteronomy 32:39. See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. 40. For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.

God is always the head of everything. He controls everything, makes everything, and everything that you do is only able to be done because of Him. Always remember that.
 
scapularkid8 said:
I haven’t said to God that I want Him to take control of my life yet, because I’m afraid of what that entails. In short, I’m not making Him my God. I like to be in control still and just let God watch. 🙂

I pray to be made sorry for my sins and for me to be able to make YHWH my God over my life. Sometimes I wonder why I’m even Catholic…😦 I feel like a failure.
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  1. Acknowledging this issue is a good start.
  2. This is a good start, too, and it sounds like you’re learning humility.
But don’t get proud of it.
 
I’m afraid of what that entails
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Well, they don’t mean you go unconscious and have Him take complete control. I think what they mean is be more devoted to Him. You need His help.
Sometimes I wonder why I’m even Catholic… I feel like a failure.
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Because you will eventually be able to get over the problem, don’t worry. Also, it’s good to note that that’s what the church is for, to help heal you from sins.

In a related matter, have you tried the 9-1-1 method? Every time you think you want to sin, unless you are in heavy traffic or some other situation like that, make the sign of the cross 9 times and then pray twice.
 
Q. I have formed a real habit of masturbation and don’t know how to stop. What’s the best way to overcome this?
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A. Prayer and patient perseverance. As you begin the battle, know that God is pleased with your desire for holiness and that his grace is working in your life. He will complete the good work he has begun in you (Phil. 1:6). Come to him in prayer and ask him often for the grace to be pure, and specifically to overcome this habit. The number one prayer you can offer is the holy sacrifice of the Mass. There is enough grace in one Communion to make you a saint. Tap into that fountain of purity!
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Spend an increased amount of time in personal prayer as well, and speak openly to Jesus about your struggles. Also, pray the Hail Mary three times each day for purity of mind, body, and heart; frequent the sacrament of reconciliation; read Scripture; pray the rosary; make the Stations of the Cross; and develop a devotion to St. Joseph. These form an arsenal of weapons against any sin. Use them often, and you will eventually be able to overcome any vice.
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If you need to confess the same sin repeatedly, do so. The devil will try to discourage you, saying, “Hey, you’ve been back in the confessional so many times with this sin. Why don’t you give up? You can’t win.” Recognize these thoughts as a temptation and turn immediately to prayer. Know that the patient is healed who shows his wound to the physician. The confessional is the medicine box, Christ in the priest is the doctor, and that is the last place the devil wants you to be. You are on the winning team, and the Lord will not let you be snatched from his hand. You can not do it alone, but you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Phil. 4:13).
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Certainly, if you own any obscene material, vulgar music, and such, get rid of them immediately. For the sake of love, guard yourself against such contamination. Replace these things with good Christian music and put holy images in your room, especially where you usually fall into the sin. If you have a habit of watching a lot of television, find something else to do, such as exercise. This helps release tension and makes the body easier to master. Television is idleness filled with temptation, and that is kindling for the fires of lust.
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To help you grow in discipline, set reachable goals. For example, make a commitment not to masturbate for three days, a week, a month, or whatever you feel is a reasonable time. When you have made it to that point, you will have an increased sense of confidence that you do have control over your body. Then, bump up the time and abstain for a longer period. Keep this up until the vice is overcome, and it ceases to be an option.
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During this time of discipline, give up tiny things. For example, skip salt on your fries, or skip seconds at a meal. These small sacrifices will help you grow in self-mastery, so that you gain self-control. After all, we are slaves to whatever rules us. The difference is like that between a jockey who has no control over his horse which gallops wildly through gardens and living rooms, and a jockey who has control and can win races and stop on a dime. That is a person fully alive. This kind of self-control is impossible alone, but with the grace of God, all things are possible. If you ask for purity, not one grace will be lacking. Be patient with yourself and do not give in to discouragement. The prize of true love awaits those that are truly free, because they are the ones capable of giving and receiving.
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If you can find a group of devout Catholic friends to be around, that would also be good.
 
Dear Scapular Kid,

The bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all sin and that sin makes us guilty, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. If you have sinned go to the Father, Go to Jesus Christ, Jesus taught us to pray Our Father who is in heaven hallowed by thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS THEIR TRESPASSES AGAINST US. Pray to Him and ask for forgiveness and He promises that though our sin be as scarlet we will be washed white as snow. If you have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God nothing you do will ever be enough to earn your forgiveness, and you will be condemned to hell for all of eternity unless you repent. What is repentance it is going one way, stop and turn the other way and go in the right direction. Once we trust Jesus Christ alone as the source of our salvation many of us stop their and forget that He promises to be our teacher, to teach us by the power of the Holy Spirit to teach us to obey. He may use others to do this but ultimately it is Him doing the work, Ask Him to forgive your sin, ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit, Read your Bible daily, read it cover to cover throughout your lifetime more than once and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the truths that lie within, I personally use the NKJV and highly recommend it. Go to a church that has not left its first love and teaches the word of God line upon line verse upon verse that you may be filled with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Then wait for His return, remembering that Christ could come back at anytime the world is screaming for His return everytime I read a newspaper I am reminded of this. IF CHRIST RETURNED TODAY WOULD HE FIND YOU A FAITHFUL SERVANT OR AN EVIL SERVANT FOLLOWING AFTER YOUR SINS? Either way if your faith is in Him He would love you and recieve you to Himself but do you want that embarrassment? Then look forward to heaven and the blessed assurance we have, not that it all balances out in the end but that Jesus Christ payed our ransom on the cross and we will be seated with Him in heavenly places if we put our HOPE solely on him and no other. God bless you today.
 
I realize that the rosary and the scapular are not eastern traditions. However, I’d suggest that maybe you ought to look into it. Wearing a cloth scapular will remind you of clothing yourself in Christ. When I was a young teen in a family that did not understand my Catholic faith, nor the devotions I committed, I found myself in a situation where I had to find ways to avoid temptations in a really messed up situation. Daily prayer, scripture reading and meditation and acts of personal sacrifice helped keep me from sexual impurity. I know of the chikoti, and I’m sure it too could help if you wrap it around your hand as a daily reminder of who you are. If you’re too embarrassed or its inappropriate in certain contexts, put it readily in your pocket as a reminder. Also, carry a crucifix of substantial size with you at all times. Don’t worry about what people think. Just do it. The scapular is worn under your shirt against your skin. And since it’s wool, it will be uncomfortable at first, but trust me it reminds me of our Blessed Mother and Christ who suffered and died for me.
 
scapularkid8 said:
I go to Confession at the Pantocrator icon right?
I don’t know how to prepare or what to say to God beforehand. Or how to change.
In the meantime I’m afraid I’ll just keep sinning because I’m in a really bad habit of masturbation and I’m struggling here. Heavily.

I feel like I say prayers hoping God will help me stop but I don’t. It’s really discouraging.
Click to expand...
You already know about prayer.

First of all we are immersed in sexual tempations in our modern culture. It helps to avoid anything that will lead to unchastity. (And we know it doesn’t take much to get the mind going in the sinful direction.) No how many time one fails, one wins by beginning again: the good fight. Get rid of anything that is tempting that you have bought, without regard for the cost.

Secondly, it is good to be busy helping others and avoid being alone by yourself when occasion of these types of sins may occur.

Thirdly, it is good to get regular exercise (break a sweat) to use some of the physical energy.

Wearing tighter underwear (or thong, a technique of eastern renunciants) can help.

Fourthly, it is good to do something creating that you are interested in, to use the creative energy (music, writing, service, organizing, etc.).
 
Necromancy is forbidden in Christianity, but what about thread necromancy? 😃

Peace and God bless!
 
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